Older Women Unleashing Potential: From Sour to Sweet: Recap
A year ago, Don Lemon's comment suggesting that women over 50 are past their prime sparked surprise and dismay. On the contrary, I saw it as an opportunity to celebrate the vitality and wisdom that women in their 50s and beyond embody. This triggered a call to action: we solicited nominations for women leveraging their experience and wisdom to cultivate greatness. Our invitation yielded a multitude of nominations, with over half coming from individuals in their 20s and 30s. These submissions depicted mentors, educators, advocates, and pioneers who has significantly impacted the lives of the nominees.
Reflecting on my personal journey, I wondered how my younger self would have approached starting a business and delving into a new industry post-50. Would I have been less assertive and connected with trends? Or would I have been wiser and more experienced, enabling me to make shrewder decisions?
Now, I am convinced that women in their 50s and beyond are the architects of progress. They are not only leading companies, instigating social change, and forging technological advancements but also shaping the world for future generations. In the media, there's a palpable shift in recognition, and we're continually learning about women over 50 making significant strides in business, their communities, and society. It's a change that I wholeheartedly welcome.
One such trailblazer is Margot Carter, an award-winning leader in AI, recognized for her strategic vision, innovativeness, and vital role in the SAAS executive realm. Her outstanding accomplishments serve as a stark reminder that the myth of women over 50 being outdated or irrelevant in technology and leadership is unfounded.
Among the other extraordinary women we've had the privilege to showcase are Tracy Rector, who is revolutionizing responses to domestic violence; Arianna Huffington, who is helping global organizations and tens of thousands of employees thrive through Thrive Global; Diane Paddison, who is serving professional Christian women, connecting them on a global scale; Brenda Stoner, a celebrated entrepreneur who masterfully solves complex problems; Suzan Morno-Wade, who is driving a transformative human capital strategy at Xerox; Ginny Kissling, the leader of the world's largest tax services firm dedicated to continually evolving business taxes; and Ann Marie Scichili, who builds global brands by expertly connecting products with consumers. Each of these women is fervently cultivating greatness.
The power of women over 50 has never been stronger. Research suggests that entrepreneurs in their 50s and beyond are twice as likely to succeed as those in their 20s, primarily due to experience and resilience. Fearlessness, strong intellectual agility, openness, and moderate agreeableness have also been identified as traits that correlate with success. In fact, three out of four women featured on Forbes' list of the World's Most Powerful Women are over the age of 50, underscoring the truth that women hit their stride and make their most significant impact in life's second half.
All of these extraordinary women are changing the world, altering my perspective in the process. Their collective impact, driven by experience, wisdom, and resilience, extends across the globe. If you've been inspired by their stories, I encourage you to reflect on the women in your life who deserve to be celebrated as well.
- Women in their 50s and beyond are not only leading companies and forging technological advancements but also shaping the world for future generations in the health-and-wellness industry, as evidenced by Margot Carter's strategic vision in AI.
- In the finance sector, Ginny Kissling, leader of the world's largest tax services firm, continually evolves business taxes, demonstrating that wisdom and experience in this age bracket can result in shrewder decisions.
- Social change can also be instigated by women over 50, such as Tracy Rector, who is revolutionizing responses to domestic violence, and Ann Marie Scichili, who builds global brands by expertly connecting products with consumers.
- The power of women over 50 extends even to the realm of leadership, with three out of four women on Forbes' list of the World's Most Powerful Women being over the age of 50, symbolizing the truth that these women hit their stride and make their most significant impact in life's second half. Additionally, research indicates that entrepreneurs in their 50s and beyond are twice as likely to succeed due to their experience and resilience.
